Refrigeration



April 9, 1940.

w. R. HAINSWORTH 2,196,5 7

REFRIGERATION Filed NOV. 15, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

w ATTORNEY.

mat/QW- Ap 1940- w. R. HAINSWORTH 5,

REFRIGERATION Filed Nov. 15, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Mam K WW 9 44212:

ATTORNEY.

INVENTOR.

1940- w. R. HAINSWORTH REFRIGERATION Filed Nov. 15, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

# Wmzt 1M ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 9, 1940 William B. Hainlworth,

signor, by melne Larclimont, N. Y., a-

cuts, to Servel. Inc.,

Dover, Dei., a corporation of Delaware Application November 15, 1934, Serial No. 753.151

14 Claims.

My invention relatesto refrigeration and it is an object of my invention to provide for adjustment and automatic control of the humfdity of air in a refrigerator.

I provide, in a refrigerator storage compartment, a low temperature cooling element, which may be operated below the freezing temperature of water, and a higher temperature cooling element, preferably operated at a temperature above the freezing temperature of water. The higher temperature cooling element may be provided with an extensive heat transfer surface relative to the heat transfer surface of the low temperature-cooling element. By providing for variation of the relative flow of air in thermal transfer relation with said cooling elements, I may regulate the humidity of the air.

My invention, together with the objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood upon reference to the following description and accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, and of which:

Fig. 1 is a front view within the upper part of a refrigerator embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is sectional view on line 33 in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, I have shown in Fig. 1 the upper part of a refrigerator ill, omitting the refrigerator door to reveal the upper part of a storage compartment ll containing a cooling device l2 embodying my invention. The structure of the cooling device l2 will be better understood by reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

As may be seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the cooling device i2 includes an upper pipe coil 13 connected in series with a lower pipe coil l4. The upper pipe coil i3 is provided with a plurality of heat transfer fins i5 and the lower coil i4 is arranged in thermal contact with a receptacle it for ice freezing trays II. The receptacle i6 may be formed by a casting of suitable thermal conductive material, such as aluminum, and the coil [4 may be embedded therein during the casting process. This cooling device is generally of the nature of that disclosed in an application Serial No. 645,432 of Albert R. Thomas, now Patent No. 2,008,343, and is intended for use in a refrigeration system of the pressure equalized absorption yp Briefly, in a system of this type, absorption liquid is circulated between a generator and absorber and an inert auxiliary gas is circulated between the absorber and an evaporator. Refrigerant vapor, soluble in the absorption liquid, is expelled from solution in the generator by heating and the vaporis liquefied in a condenser. The liquefied refrigerant is conducted to the evaporator, where it evaporates and diffuses into the auxiliary gas, producing refrigeration. In the absorber, refrigerant vapor is absorbed out of the inert gas into the absorption liquid.-

Referring to Fig. ,2, inert gas enters the cooling device l2 at the lower end i8 of the coil i4, flows through the coil i4 and the coil I3, and leaves the upper end IQ of the coil i3. Liquid refrigerant enters the upper end of the coil l3 through a conduit 20, and flows downwardly through coil i3 and coil i4. Due to the fact that inert gas flows through the coil it before entering the upper coil i3, the partial pressure of refrigerant vapor is higher in the coil l3 than in the coil l4. Therefore, evaporation of liquid refrigerant occurs at a higher temperature in the coil I3 than in the coil I. The portion of the cooling device i2 comprising the coils i3 and i4 and the casting it may be mounted on a wall section 2i of the refrigerator cabinet.

Around the cooling coils i3 and i4, I provide a casing comprising a front plate 22 and side plates 23 and 24. The plates 22, 23, and 24 are secured to the front and sides respectively of an upper rectangular frame 25 and a lower rectangular frame 28. The upper frame 25 is fabricated of flat metal strips and is formed with a peripheral flange 21. The lowerrectangular frame 26 is similarly fabricated and provided with a peripheral flange 28. At the inner edge and alon the front of the upper frame 25 there is formed a flange 29. Similarly, along the inner edge of the rear portion of the upper frame 25 there is formed a flange 30. The lower frame 26 is similarly formed with flanges 3i and 32. As may be seen in Fig. 4, the upper frame 25 is provided with a slot 33 through which extends the connecting portion portion 34 between the upper coil i 3 and the lower coil H. The assembly comprising the plates and frames may be mounted on the refrigerator wall section 2i, as shown, or in any other desired manner. The upper frame 25 is intermediate the coils l3 and i4, and the lower frame 26 is beneath the lower coil i4.

Between the front and rear inner flanges 29 and 30 of the upper frame 25 are pivoted a plurality of shutters 35. A similar set of shutters 36 is pivoted between the inner flanges 3| and 32 of the lower frame 26. As shown in Fig. 3, the edges of the shutters slightly overlap each other and the side portions of the frames. Tabs 31 are formed on each of the upper shutters 35 and each of these tabs is pivotally connected to a strap or bar 38, eccentrically with respect to the shutter pivots. The lower shutters 36 are likewise provided with tabs 39 which are also eccentrically connected to a strap or bar 4'0. The shutters 35 and 38 may be operated by reciprocation of the bars 38 and 40.

On the side plate 23 are mounted, in vertically spaced relation, two horizontally projecting lugs 4i and 42 in which is Journaled a vertical shaft 43. Near the center of the shaft 43 is mounted a short lever arm 44. On the ends of the shaft- 43are mounted lever arms 45 and 46, substantially perpendicular to the center arm 44. The upper arm 45 is connected by a rod 41 to the center of the upper shutter operating bar 38. The lower arm 46 is connected by a rod .48 to the center of the lower shutter operating bar 40.,

operated. However, I may provide for automatic operation of the shutters responsive to condition of the air in the refrigerator compartment.- To this end, a suitable humidostat 49 is mounted on the outside of the side plate 23 where it is readily affected by changes in humidity of the air in the storage compartment II. The humidostat 49 is provided with an operating crank 50 which extends through the side plate 23. The crank 50 is connected to the center arm 44 by a connecting rod 5|. Turning of the crank 50, upon operation of the humidostat 49, causes operation of the shutters as previously described.

As indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1, air circulates in the refrigerator storage compartment II. This occurs due to diiference in specific weights of air at different temperatures. Air which is cooled by thermal transfer to the cooling device l2 flows downwardly and is replaced by warmer air which has been circulated through the storage compartment. When the shutters 35 and 36 are open, air flows downwardly first in thermal transfer relation with the higher temperature cooling element comprising the finned coil l3 and then in thermal transfer relation with the low temperature or freezing element comprising the coil l4 and casting I6. It will be understood that the circulation of air may be maintained or augmented by a fan or other device for producing a forced draft, especially in larger refrigerator compartments. The low temperature cooling element being operated at a temperature below freezing, water vapor is condensed out of the air in contact therewith and freezes, forming a coating of frost on the low temperature element. This tends to cause a decrease in humidity of the air in the refrigerator compartment. The humidostat 49 responds to such decrease in humidity by turning the shutters 35 and 36 toward their closed positions, as described above, decreasing the flow of air relative to the low temperature cooling element. When the shutters 35 and 35 are completely closed, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, air flows only in thermal transfer relation with the higher temperature element l3 which causes less condensation of water vapor than the low temperature element, or, below a certain relative humidity of the air, causes no condensation. It will be understood that it is not necessary to operate the high and low temperature cooling elements above and below the freezing temperature of water, as set forth in the preferred embodiment described above, but only that the cooling elements be operated at different temperatures, so that the condensation of the moisture produced by these elements is different, whereby the humidity of the air ciramasav culated in contact therewith may be regulated by varying the relative flow of air with respect to said elements.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may 5 be made within the spirit and scope of my invention which is therefore not limited to that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a refrigerator, a thermally insulated storage compartment, refrigeration apparatus including a cooling element in said compartment, said coolingelement having a relatively low temperature portion constructed and arranged to receive ice freezing receptacles and having relatively limited surface for contact with air and a higher temperature portion having a more extensive surface for contact with air, said higher temperature portion being located above said low temperature portion, a casing enclosing said low temperature portion and'including shutters above and below said enclosed portion and operable to control flow of air through said casing in contact 35 with said low temperature portion, means. for operating said shutters, and a humidostat for operating said means and located without said casing so as to vbe subjected to air in said re-' frigerator storage compartment.

. 2. In a refrigerator having a thermally insulated storage compartment, refrigeration apparatus including a cooling element in said compartment, said cooling element having a relatively low temperature portion constructed and ar- 35 ranged to receive ice freezing receptacles and having relatively limited surface for contact with air and a. higher temperature portion having a more extensive surface for contact with air, a

casing enclosing said low temperature portion and including shutters operable to control flow of air through said casing in contact with said low temperature portion, and means for operating said shutters responsive to'humidity of air in said refrigerator storage compartment.

3. In a refrigerator having a thermally insulated storage compartment, refrigeration apparatus including a cooling element in said compartment, said cooling element having a relatively low temperature portion constructed and 5 arranged to receive ice freezing receptacles and having relatively limited surface for contact with air and a higher temperature portion having a more extensive surface for contact with air, and

a casing enclosing said low temperature portion 55 and including shutters to regulate flow of air through said casing in contact with said low temperature portion.

4. Refrigeration apparatus including a cooling element having a relatively low temperature portion constructed and arranged to receive ice freezing receptacles and having relatively limited surface for contact with air. and a higher temperature portion having a more extensive surface for contact with air, a casing enclosing said low as temperature portion and including shutters operable to control flow of air through said casing in contact with said low temperature portion, and a humidostat for operating said shutters.

5. In a refrigerator having a thermally insulated'storage compartment, refrigeration apparatus including a cooling element in. said compartment, said cooling element having a low temperature pipe portion and a higher temperature pipe portion and located in the upper part of said 76 and caused to circulate in said compartment by gravity influence, means to flow refrigerant through said pipe portions in series, means to. flow inert gas through said pipe portions in series, a casing around said low temperature portion, and means operable to regulate flow of air through said casing in contact with said low temperature portion.

6. In a refrigerator having a thermally insulated storage compartment, refrigeration apparatus including a low temperature cooling element and a higher temperature cooling element, said elements being located in the upper part of said storage compartment so that air cooled thereby is caused to circulate in contact with material to be refrigerated by gravity influence, means to flow refrigerant and inert gas in counter-flow relation through said elements in series, and means for regulating flow of air with respect to said low temperature cooling element to control the humidity of the air in contact with material to be refrigerated.

7. In a refrigerator having a thermally insulated storage compartment, refrigeration apparatus including a plurality of cooling elements at different temperatures arranged in said com-' partment to cause circulation of air in said compartment in contact with material to be refrigerated by gravity influence due to the cooling of air flowing in contact with one or more of said elements, means to flow refrigerant and inert gas in counter-flow relation through said elements in series, and means for regulating the relative flow of air in contact with said elements to control the humidity of air in contact with material to be refrigerated and to control the relative cooling loads on the respective elements.

8. In a refrigerator having a thermally insulated storage compartment, refrigeration apparatus including a low temperature cooling element constructed and arranged to receive ice freezing receptacles, and a higher temperature cooling element having a more extensive surface for contact with air, said elements being located in the upper part of said storage compartment so that air cooled thereby is caused to circulate in contact with material to be refrigerated by gravity influence, and means for regulating flow of air with respect to said low temperature cooling element to control the humidity of the air in contact with material to be refrigerated.

9. A method of controlling humidity in a refrigerator cabinet which comprises producing refrigeration at different temperatures indifferent zones with a system charged with refrigerant,

absorption liquid and inert gas and by evaporation of liquid refrigerant into the inert gas in the respective zones, flowing refrigerant and inert gas in said system in series with respect to said zones, causing flow of air through said zones, varying the flow of air in said zones by controlling flow of air in less than the total number of zones, controlling the relative flow of air in said. zones, and causing circulation of they air in said cabinet in contact with material to be refrigerated by gravity influence due to the cooling of air in one or more of said zones.

10. A method of controlling humidity in a refrigerator cabinet which comprises causing flow of air in contact with a cooling element above the freezing temperature of water and in contact with a cooling element below the freezing temperature of water, flowing liquid refrigerant through said elements in series by gravity, flowing a charge of inert gas through said elements with material to be refrigerated by gravity influence due to the cooling of air in contact with one or both of said elements.

11. A method of controlling humidity in a refrigerator cabinet which comprises causing flow of air in contact with a plurality of cooling elements at different temperatures, flowing liquid refrigerant through said elements in series by gravity, flowing a charge of inert gas through said elements in series and counter-current to the flow of refrigerant, varying the flow of air in contact with said elements to vary the respective cooling effects of the elements, controlling the flow of air in contact with one of said elements to thereby control a plurality of elements, and causing circulation of the air in said cabinet in contact with material to be refrigerated by gravity influence due to the cooling of air in contact with one or more of said elements.

12. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a structure defining first and second zones to be refrigerated, means for cooling the air in the first zone to a relatively low temperature, means for cooling the air in the second zone to a relatively high temperature, and means responsive to a predetermined value of the humidity of the air in the higher temperature zone for establishing communication between the zones.

13. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination of a structure defining first and second zones to be refrigerated, first and second evaporators for cooling the air in the first and second zones, respectively, a device responsive to the humidity of the air-in the first zone, said device being operative to effect-communication between the zones when said humidity is above a predetermined value and to terminate communication between the zones when the humidity is below said predetermined value.

14. In refrigerating apparatus, the combination of means defining relatively high and low temperature chambers for the storage of perishables, relatively high and low temperature evaporators for abstracting heat from the high and low temperature chambers, respectively, said high temperature evaporator being primarily effective for abstracting sensible heat from the air in the high temperature chamber, whereby a relatively high humidity is maintained therein, said low temperature evaporator being effective for reducing the temperature of the air in the low temmm a. mn'zswoa-m. 

